LW2CR: International Children's Rights

Module code: LW2CR

Module provider: School of Law

Credits: 20

ECTS credits: 10

Level: 5

When you’ll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Dr Alison Bisset, email: a.j.bisset@reading.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Dr Naomi Lott, email: n.r.lott@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2026/7

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 26 March 2026

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module aims to introduce students to the theory and practice of international children’s rights. It aims to provide a core knowledge and understanding of the relevant international legal frameworks, the concepts and theories that underpin them and the contexts in which they apply. The module also aims to develop an understanding of the complex interactions and intersections of international law and politics, economics and cultural norms and how they impact the realisation of children’s rights. By foregrounding theoretical and conceptual analysis, the module aims to encourage critical reflection as to the basis of law’s role in this area and the limits of its ability to bring about social change.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Explain sociological theories of childhood. 
2. Demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the international children’s rights frameworks. 
3. Critically assess the compatibility of the legal frameworks with sociological understandings of childhood. 
4. Apply principles of international law and theories of childhood to contemporary issues concerning children’s rights. 
5. Demonstrate an understanding of the challenges of realising children’s rights and the relationship between rights and political, economic, social and cultural realities. 
6. Draw upon a body of detailed substantive knowledge gained through both class participation and self-study, and apply this to contemporary dilemmas arising in international children’s rights in an assessed oral presentation and piece of written work.

Module content

This module will consider:

• Sociological understandings of childhood.
• The origins and development of the children’s rights movement.
• The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, the different types of rights and the obligations of states.
• A series of case studies, including child soldiers, child labour, the right to play, and children and climate change. Case studies may vary year on year.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module will be delivered through weekly 2 hour lectures, 5 workshops, and 5 tutorials. There will also be blended learning throughout the module. Students will be expected to undertake relevant preparatory reading and preparation prior to attending workshops and tutorials, and to participate in discussions.

Study hours

At least 37 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each calendar day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three calendar days;
• where the piece of work is submitted up to three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in you Individual Learning Plan), the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three calendar days of the deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

Where a piece of work is submitted late after a deadline which has been revised owing to an extension granted through the Assessment Adjustments policy and process (self-certified or otherwise), it will be subject to the maximum penalty (i.e., considered to be more than three calendar days late). This will also apply when such an extension is used in conjunction with a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Pre-assessment classes will provide students with guidance on how to approach assessed elements of the module and provide opportunities for questions and formative feedback.

Reassessment

Additional costs